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Fruits & Vegetables for Rabbits

Fruits and Veggies for Rabbits

Updated on July 18, 2024
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Reviewed by Petco’s Animal Care
Education and Compliance (ACE) Team

There’s a longstanding stereotype that rabbits are always eating carrots—however, the truth behind rabbit diets is quite different. Your pet rabbit’s diet should be composed primarily of timothy or pet-quality grass hay such as orchard, oat, or meadow hay, a high-quality pelleted food, and some fruits andvegetables can be added for diversity and supplemental nutrition.

Some good vegetables for rabbits include leafy greens and carrot tops. Your vet may also recommend small amounts of fruits and non-leafy vegetables on occasion as a special treat. Read on to learn more specifics about what vegetables rabbits can eat, and check out our Rabbit Care Sheet for additional tips.

Table of Contents

What vegetables can rabbits eat?

The best vegetables for rabbits are those which offer lots of nutrients and are easy to digest. It’s recommended that pet parents feed no more than two cups of leafy greens and no more than two tablespoons of non-leafy veggies to their rabbit per day. Consult your veterinarian to find out what foods are most appropriate for your bunny.

Here are some vegetables rabbits can eat:

  • Carrot tops
  • Watercress
  • Spinach
  • Endive
  • Romaine lettuce
  • Escarole
  • Kale
  • Red sails lettuce
  • Ruby gem lettuce
  • Lollo rossa lettuce
  • Butter lettuce
  • Basil
  • Cilantro
  • Bell peppers
  • Radicchio
  • Zucchini
  • Cucumber
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Wheatgrass

What fruits are good for my rabbits?

Can rabbits eat fruit? Yes, but they should consume it with even more caution than most vegetables. Your pet rabbit should eat fruit no more than two times per week and with approval from your vet. Due to the high sugar content, you need to be very careful about feeding your rabbit different kinds of fruit. It’s recommended that you stick to a single serving size of 1 to 2 tablespoons and only offer it once or twice a week. Also, be sure to remove all pits, seeds, cores, stems and leaves before providing fruit to your pet.

This can leave many pet parents wondering, “What fruits can rabbits eat?” Fruits that rabbits love and are typically acceptable for them to eat include the following:

  • Apples
  • Pears
  • Strawberries
  • Cranberries
  • Mango
  • Apricots
  • Grapes
  • Watermelon
  • Nectarines
  • Plum

General tips for feeding your rabbit

Most of your rabbit’s diet should consist of grass hay. Never offer grass trimmings from your yard or cow-quality hay. You can find high-quality rabbit food and hay at Petco and other pet food stores. There are many different blends available, and the right choice for your pet can depend on the nutrition it provides and their personal preference. It’s recommended that pet parents avoid feeding alfalfa hay in large quantities because it contains more protein and calcium than is recommended for most adult rabbits. Stick with timothy, orchard, oat, or meadow hay, or reach out to your veterinarian for a recommendation.

Grass hay is crucial for rabbit digestion and is also rich in the nutrients they need—including vitamin A. Grass hay has a lot of fiber, which keeps your rabbit regular and helps maintain gastrointestinal health. Your rabbit needs to eat grass hayfor their digestive system to work properly.

In addition to these must-eat grass hays, you can feed them 1-2 tablespoons of a high-quality pelleted food each day andrabbit-safe veggies and fruits as directed above. It’s helpful to think of fruits and vegetables as treats rather than the staple of your pet’s diet.

Water requirements for rabbits

Fresh water should be available at all times for rabbits to help them digest fruits and vegetables. Some pets prefer to drink from a bowl—but be aware that an open bowl may need to be cleaned more often throughout the day as your pet will drop bits of food in it. Another option is a water bottle sipper, which can be attached to the side of rabbit cages and habitats. These water bottles only release water when your pet pushes on a ball at the bottom of the sipper.

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FAQs about fruits and veggies for rabbits

Fruits and vegetables for bunnies can add variety and flavor to your pet’s diet—but moderation is key. Leafy vegetables can be fed daily, and fruit may be provided weekly. Rabbits don’t naturally eat a lot of root vegetables or fruit in natural environments as they are high in sugar and do not promote gastrointestinal health if consumed in large quantities. They typically prefer leafy options instead. However, your bunny will likely enjoy a serving of nutrient-rich fruit on rare occasions to shake up their regular diet.

Rabbits can eat leafy greens daily, but some veggies—like root vegetables—should only be offered as a treat and in small quantities. You can provide leafy greens like watercress, green, red or butter leaf lettuce and chard in an adult-sized handful every day. Some of the best veggies for rabbits’ daily dietary needs include lettuce and herbs like these.

Be sure to wash all veggies before feeding them to your rabbit. Pesticides and other contaminants could make your pet sick.

While vegetables are generally nutritious for humans, some varietals are less beneficial to your rabbit’s health than others. Potentially unhealthy vegetables for rabbits include those with a high carbohydrate count that disrupt natural GI flora. This includes whole carrots—stick to providing whole carrots only as a treat on rare occasions and carrot tops in small quantities. Whole carrots contain a surprising amount of natural sugars and shouldn’t be fed to your pet too often. Avoid feeding potatoes and corn altogether, as these are typically too hard for your rabbit to digest.

Other vegetables that may be too high in calcium or oxalates for regular use in your rabbit’s diet include kale, parsley, collard greens, dandelion greens and escarole. If you choose to feed one of these veggies, be sure it is only in moderation and not every day. Cauliflower is likely to cause gas and should be avoided. Peas and turnip greens should only ever be offered fresh and as a small treat on very rare occasions. While calcium is essential for proper skeletal and bone development in bunnies, their bodies absorb more calcium than they need for this purpose. Excess calcium or oxalates can lead to the formation of urinary crystals that can cause problems, as well as a thick calcium film that develops in your pet’s kidneys.

While even some of the best vegetables for rabbits should be served in moderation, they should always have grass hay available for grazing. You will learn that your pet rabbit will develop their favorite feeding time—often late at night or dawn—and they should have grass hay at their disposal at all times. You normally don’t need to limit hay intake, but it is always good to monitor how much they are eating. If you notice they decrease the amount of hay they consume or stop eating, check in with your veterinarian immediately for guidance.

You can feed veggie and fruit supplements any time of day at the quantities and frequency recommended above or as directed by your veterinarian.

No. While bunnies and rabbits will eat their hay on their own schedule, they will probably devour all the fruit in their pen at once if left to their own devices.

You must carefully ration out fruits and non-leafy vegetable treats and never leave an amount enough to be grazed on over time.

Like rabbit bedding and litter, your rabbit’s food and water supply should be kept clean. Refresh your pet’s grass hay supply often and clean their water dish or sipper daily with water and mild soap. When you change out the bedding altogether, provide all-new hay for a fresh start. This can help prevent their food supply from being contaminated by germs from feces and urine.

Grass and hay—in addition to some rabbit-safe veggies and fruits—can also be susceptible to mold if left in your pet’s home too long. There are various molds that could form on old grass and hay, which can cause various health issues such as gastrointestinal upset, kidney and liver damage or death. This is why it is important to check your rabbit’s food. Remove all soiled or wet bedding, food and hay daily, and replace it with fresh hay and clean bedding as needed.

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